← Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight / An Alliterative Romance-Poem (c. 1360 A.D.)

IX

Now rideȝ þis renk þurȝ þe ryalme of Logres,

Sir Gauan on Godeȝ halue, þaȝ hym no gomen þoȝt;

Oft, leudleȝ alone, he lengeȝ on nyȝteȝ,

Þer he fonde noȝt hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked;

Hade he no fere bot his fole, bi frytheȝ & douneȝ,

Ne no gome bot God, bi gate wyth to karp,

Til þat he neȝed ful noghe in to þe Norþe Waleȝ;

Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldeȝ,

& fareȝ ouer þe fordeȝ by þe for-londeȝ,

Ouer at þe Holy-Hede, til he hade eft bonk

In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde þer bot lyte

Þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied.

& ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekeȝ þat he met,

If þay hade herde any karp of a knyȝt grene,

In any grounde þer-aboute, of þe grene chapel;

& al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue

Þay seȝe neuer no segge þat watȝ of suche hweȝ

of grene.
Þe knyȝt tok gates straunge,
In mony a bonk vnbene,
His cher ful oft con chaunge,
Þat chapel er he myȝt sene.

nyghe (?). MS. clapel.